Gather round, for you’re about to hear one of the oldest and most venerated of tales. Yes, today we delve into the tomes of fantasy tabletop RPGs. A genre with roots that go all the way back to the beginning of tabletop RPG gaming. And with that storied history comes games all over the spectrum of complexity, intensity, and design philosophy. What does that mean for you? A lot of choices for what your group could play next! 

Here we’ve summoned 10 of the most popular, easiest to learn, or just plain fun fantasy TTRPGs. There are games about dungeon delving, monster fighting, loot grabbing, magic school attending, lore chasing, swashbuckling, and even space-faring. Hopefully one will be the game your table is destined to play.  

Dragonbane

Dragonbane is the perfect system for all those people who share “waiting an hour for my turn in combat” DnD memes. The roots of Dragonbane go back to a Swedish RPG from the 80s, yet this modern translation aims to keep the uniqueness of the setting while amping up the pace. The result is a game that d20 fantasy fans will recognize, but one that transports them to a challenging world of mirth and mayhem. Also you can play as a duck person! 

Dungeon Crawl Classics

Those who yearn for the olden days of fantasy TTRPGs, the days when a single spike trap ended your character, can find solace in Dungeon Crawl Classics. This game is meant to evoke the tense, cruel dungeon crawls of the 70s but with the more streamlined rules of today’s games. It’s a grittier world with more character death than modern popular games, so you’re encouraged to come ready with a backup character. 

Dungeons & Dragons

DnD is the basis for what many imagine when they hear the words “fantasy roleplaying.” Point to a Reddit thread about the ways DnD 5e falls short all you want, it doesn’t change the fact that this is the most played system out there. And for how much is expected of it, DnD really does satisfy players looking to use their imagination and DMs looking for enough material to build a campaign from. 

If you’re a lone player looking for a group, you’ll have the most success with DnD. If you’re a DM looking to induct a group of newbies into the hobby, chances are they came your way because of Critical Role or Baldur’s Gate 3. Here are StartPlaying, we offer many sessions in the latest edition, classic 2014 5e, and past editions. 

Pathfinder

For some, the DnD rules just don’t allow for enough customization, strategy, or consistency. Enter Pathfinder, a system built on the bones of DnD 3.5e before going off to become its own thing. Pathfinder’s selling point is that it’s a more complex game than DnD, yet through that complexity offers an astounding amount of options to players and reliable rules for GMs. Pathfinder publisher Paizo releases a vast library of adventures, setting books, and character customization content to keep your campaigns going for as long as you want. 

Fabula Ultima 

If you’ve been searching for an anime or Final Fantasy style game, here it is. Fabula Ultima’s art suggests a classic FF feel and the gameplay backs it up. Imagine turn-based battles and classic classes like Arcanist and Elementalist. The world is created by the GM and players together before the adventure starts. Settings can veer into steampunk or magitech territory depending on what flavor of fantasy your group prefers. Overall, Fabula Ultima is great for creating a JRPG experience where roleplay matters just as much as combat.

Forbidden Lands

Exploration is a hallmark of fantasy RPGs, and yet few of the popular games are said to do it right. Forbidden Lands addresses this need for exploration/survival gameplay by going all in on the concept. The world is broken and dangerous, with your characters just fighting to survive. You still raid tombs and battle monsters, but now you’re doing it to live rather than to become heroes. Getting there is half, if not more, of the battle. It’s the perfect fit for those who really want that Elden Ring sort of sandboxy, everything-wants-to-kill-you game. 

Avatar Legends

The Kickstarter for this game, based on the Avatar the Last Airbender and Korra tv shows, made record-breaking money. Yet when copies started getting delivered, buyers did not find a DnD clone or tactical bending combat simulator. Instead, this Avatar RPG uses the d6 Powered by the Apocalypse system. This means it focuses more on roleplay choices and simplifies bending to a set of moves with predetermined outcomes. The style of play might not be what fans of the show were expecting, but storytelling potential is limitless under the guidance of a seasoned GM. Once you understand and fully embrace the balance system and character archetypes, you’re in for a wonderful experience. 

Legend In The Mist

Sick of modern movie references and memes in your weekly RPG game? Try Legend in the Mist’s more mysterious, disconnected world. The characters you’ll play as are usually just town guards, mischievous children, and the apprentice of the weird witch of the woods. Strange forces are gathering outside your quaint little town, and circumstances have made you the ones to go out into the world and put a stop to them. Roleplay and collaborative storytelling are highly encouraged in this system, and the very personality traits you choose in creation affect your rolls. 

Starfinder 

I know, the art is deceiving but hear me out. Starfinder is built on the same rules as Pathfinder. It even shares lore, as Starfinder’s universe is the future of Pathfinder. So yes there are still elves, magic spells, monsters, and all the other things that make fantasy what it is. There just also happens to be spaceships and aliens. The rules are just as complex and varied as Pathfinder’s, which also means there’s a lot of options for players to use when building characters. Ultimately, check out Startfinder if you love Pathfinder or are curious to see how fantasy and sci-fi collide. 

Kids On Brooms

Amidst all the swords and sorcery fables, what about modern fantasy? Or what about the fantasy of going to magic school? Kids on Brooms delivers this experience in an easy-to-learn package. You’ll have fun riding brooms and brewing potions while also solving mysteries about mysterious goings-on behind the scenes of your peaceful school life. Narrative is the focus, making this a nice chill game for one-shots and campaigns alike.